Government shuts down trucking company

By Lauren Baheri

Published: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 05:18 PM.

A Cherryville-based trucking company has been deemed an imminent hazard to public safety and forced to shut down. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration forced the closure of Moonlight Express, a five-truck operator based in Cherryville, in an order dated Oct. 30. The company owner says the problems stem from record-keeping and he intends to get back up and running.

Moonlight Express, owned by Rocky Lee Brown carries general freight. According to the federal order, Moonlight Express failed to monitor drivers, properly inspect and maintain vehicles and keep up with drug testing for employees.

One part of the order says Brown let a driver operate a truck before drug test results were back. It alleges another driver continued work after having a commercial license suspended. “Moonlight Express’ irresponsible actions in allowing unqualified drivers to operate its commercial motor vehicles substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to Moonlight Express’ drivers and the motoring public,” the order states.

The federal agency also says Brown did not report driver payroll records, fuel receipts and other paperwork to regulators when asked. He had no driver qualifications on file for four of his six employed drivers, said the order. Brown says Moonlight Express will sort out the issues and be back on the road as soon as possible.

He said he has hired a safety consulting firm and will be meeting regulators on Friday. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get it back up and running and let everybody know we’re here to stay,” Brown said.

The major concerns are with record-keeping, Brown said. Some documents were misplaced and not filed, he said. As far as safety is concerned, Brown said, they’ve never had any troubles.

The only wrecks they’ve ever had have been minor, he said. “We’ve never even had a driver hurt,” Brown said.

A Cherryville-based trucking company has been deemed an imminent hazard to public safety and forced to shut down. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration forced the closure of Moonlight Express, a five-truck operator based in Cherryville, in an order dated Oct. 30. The company owner says the problems stem from record-keeping and he intends to get back up and running.

Moonlight Express, owned by Rocky Lee Brown carries general freight. According to the federal order, Moonlight Express failed to monitor drivers, properly inspect and maintain vehicles and keep up with drug testing for employees.

One part of the order says Brown let a driver operate a truck before drug test results were back. It alleges another driver continued work after having a commercial license suspended. “Moonlight Express’ irresponsible actions in allowing unqualified drivers to operate its commercial motor vehicles substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to Moonlight Express’ drivers and the motoring public,” the order states.

The federal agency also says Brown did not report driver payroll records, fuel receipts and other paperwork to regulators when asked. He had no driver qualifications on file for four of his six employed drivers, said the order. Brown says Moonlight Express will sort out the issues and be back on the road as soon as possible.

He said he has hired a safety consulting firm and will be meeting regulators on Friday. “We’re going to do whatever it takes to get it back up and running and let everybody know we’re here to stay,” Brown said.

The major concerns are with record-keeping, Brown said. Some documents were misplaced and not filed, he said. As far as safety is concerned, Brown said, they’ve never had any troubles.

The only wrecks they’ve ever had have been minor, he said. “We’ve never even had a driver hurt,” Brown said.

Brown also owns Rose Trucking Co. of Crouse. A compliance review into Rose Trucking in September returned an unsatisfactory rating. In 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ordered 11 trucking companies to cease operations.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.